Fluid Mechanics 2019

DESIGN EXPERIMENT
TITLE: “A Study on the Effectiveness of Saluyot “Corchorus olitorius” Leaf Mucilage Extract as
Natural Flocculant in Treating Waste Water in Estero de San Miguel”
Objectives:

This study generally aims to test the effectiveness of Saluyot leaf mucilage extract as natural

flocculant.
1. To determine the turbidity level before and after the application of the extract.
1. To determine the amount of extract that will achieve the highest reduction of turbidity.
2. To determine the color, conductivity, temperature, and viscosity of the water before

and after the application of the mucilage extract as natural flocculant.

3. To determine the significant difference between the established physical parameters

of the waste water before and after application.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:

 Know the different ways of treating waste water.
 Understand the process of flocculation and its importance in treating waste water.
 Have comprehensive knowledge regarding the physical parameters of water that will

serve as water analysis.

 Analyze significant difference on the gathered data on color, conductivity, temperature,

and viscosity of water.

 Produce a sample of mucilage extract from Saluyot leaf as natural flocculant in treating

waste water.

Discussion:

Abstract:

One of the conventional ways in water treatment is the coagulation and flocculation

method. These are achieved by the use of coagulants and flocculants that are responsible in

the process of treating water. Flocculation is gentle stirring to encourage the particles to

Technological Institute of the Philippines

1|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
formed into masses of microflocs which can be large enough to settle or be filtered from the

solution, this process can be done faster through the use of flocculants.

Corchorus olitorius or Saluyot is a leafy vegetable typically found in tropical and

subtropical areas in Asia and Africa. It exhibits a slimy texture or mucilage which is similar to

okra.

This study aims to test the effectiveness of Saluyot Leaf mucilage extract as a natural

flocculant in treating water through the determination of the parameters such as the turbidity,

color, conductivity, temperature and viscosity and its significant difference before and after the

application of the flocculant in different dosages.

Chapter One:

The Problem and its Background

Introduction:

Water crisis has become a problem this past few months around areas in Metro Manila.
The demand of the community for clean water is also increasing. Due to this phenomena,

Technological Institute of the Philippines

2|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
recent developments have been emerging regarding waste water treatments. Waste water is
any water that has been influenced by human activities such as domestic, industrial and
commercial use.

One of the conventional ways of treating waste water are coagulation and flocculation.
Coagulation is a chemical process, from the word “coagulate” meaning to clump together,
these particles will form into micro flocs by adding coagulants. These micro flocs, will clump
into each other through the process of flocculation. Flocculation is the process of mixing the
water which will form into a cloud and then precipitate this mixing. Flocculants are used to aid
into the clumping of micro flocs with each other forming a larger flakes or flocs which when
large enough can be pulled down by gravity to settle.

Saluyot (Corchorus olitorius) from the member genus Corchorus classified in the
subfamily of Grewioideae of the family Malvaceae. It is a leafy vegetable that is abundant in
tropical and subtropical parts of Asia and Africa. This vegetable exhibits a slimy syrup once
cooked which has the same consistency found in okra (Abelmochus esculentus) from the
family Malvaceae also.

Based on Vuppala, et.al (2017) the use of natural coagulants/flocculants in water

purification have had a growing interest due to their advantages over chemical
coagulants/flocculants, such as low toxicity, biodegradability, low cost, abundant sources of
production and mainly elimination of the toxic risk to the human being. Tawan & Yusuf (2019)
added that an example of organic flocculant is polysaccharides. Furthermore, Yokoyama S.
(2014) stated that Saluyot has a high amount of mucilaginous polysaccharide. With this, the
researchers aim to test the effectiveness of Saluyot leaf mucilage extract as flocculant in
treating waste water through the use of natural substances.

Statement of the Problem:

A natural flocculant made from the mucilage extract of Saluyot leaf is tested for its
effectiveness in terms of turbidity and its physical parameters. Will the mucilage extract of
Saluyot leaf be an effective natural flocculant for in treating waste water?

Technological Institute of the Philippines

3|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
The following specific problems are to be answered based on the gathered data and results
from tests:

 What is the turbidity level before and after the application of the extract?

 At what amount of the will the natural flocculant (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 g/L) achieve the
highest reduction of turbidity in the water?

 What is the color, conductivity, temperature and viscosity data of the waste water before
and after the application of mucilage extract as natural flocculant?

 Is there a significant difference between the established parameters in the water

analysis before and after the application of the extract?

Significance of the Study:

This study will be an immense help to the following:

 Economy – it will benefit the economy by using Saluyot leaf mucilage extract as natural
flocculant which gives them ideas that there are less expensive ways on how to treat
water.

 Profession – this study will help civil engineering profession in utilizing new alternatives
in treating waste water and understanding the behavior of water in different conditions.

 Research – to acquire new ideas for alternative flocculant in treating waste water and
apply the knowledge learned in determining the physical parameters of water which is a
part of BS Civil Engineering Curriculum.

 Society – it will serve as an informative study that alternatives such as Saluyot or

vegetables or anything natural can also be used as treating water.

Conceptual Framework:
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Saluyot leaves Extracting
Coagulation Results regarding
Water the turbidity level,
Flocculation
Methanol Observing and color, conductivity,
Testing temperature and
Poly aluminum
Technological Institute of the Philippines viscosity of the
Chloride 4|Page
waste water.
 Fluid Mechanics 2019

Scope and Delimitation

The study “A Study on the Effectiveness of Saluyot “Corchorus olitorius” Leaf Mucilage
Extract as a Natural Flocculant in Treating Waste Water in Estero de San Miguel ” is bounded
by the limits set by the variables and its objectives. The study will focus on the effectiveness of
the mucilage extract as a natural flocculant in treating waste water in Estero de San Miguel
located near the vicinity of the Technological Institute of the Philippines, Quiapo Manila in
terms of its turbidity and tests to determine the color, conductivity, temperature, and viscosity of
the water and its significant difference before and after application of the natural flocculant.

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

Technological Institute of the Philippines

5|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
Literature and Studies

One of the conventional ways of treating waste water is the coagulation and flocculation
(along with rapid sedimentation) method. According to the research of Mihelcic and
Zimmerman (2012), the coagulation and flocculation processes aim to remove particles and
organic matter dissolved in natural water, in order to improve aesthetics and health aspects of
water. The main mechanism of coagulation/flocculation of polymers is the sweeping action due
to their high molecular weight and high number of segments in their chains.
(Study of coagulating/flocculating characteristics of organic polymers extracted from biowaste for water treatment;
https://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-56092019000100024)

Flocculation is the process of bringing together the destabilized or coagulated particles

to form a larger agglomerate. Flocculation is a process used to remove the turbidity causing
colloidal particles from wastewater. With constant stirring, the coagulants aggregate the
colloidal particles and form flocs. When flocs become larger in size, such as 0.1-0.2mm, they
settle at the bottom due to pull of gravity and separate to water. The stirring is done at a slow
rate, such as 15-20rpm. Flocculation last for about 30-60 min.

Based on Vuppala, et.al (2017) use of natural coagulants/flocculants in water

purification have had a growing interest due to their advantages over chemical
coagulants/flocculants, such as low toxicity, biodegradability, low cost, abundant sources of
production and mainly elimination of the toxic risk to the human being.
(Study of coagulating/flocculating characteristics of organic polymers extracted from biowaste for water treatment;
https://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-56092019000100024)

The use of natural coagulant in flocculation treatment (CF) of wastewater shows many
advantages over chemical agents, particularly biodegradability, low toxicity, low residual sludge
production and low-cost. the coagulant activity of okra mucilage (Abelmoschus esculentus) as
natural flocculant and their efficiency was compared to chloride ferric (chemical agent) in CF of
textile wastewater.
(Optimization of coagulation-flocculation process for treatment of industrial textile wastewater using okra (A.
esculentus) mucilage as natural coagulant; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669015301904)

Technological Institute of the Philippines

6|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
According to Muruganandam, L. (2017), the determination of physical and chemical
parameters in the treatment process of waste water by flocculation and coagulation processes
using natural coagulants and assessing their feasibility for water treatment by comparing the
performance with each other and with a synthetic coagulant.
(Treatment of waste water by coagulation and flocculation using Biomaterials;
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/263/3/032006/pdf)

Natural plant flocculant are promising materials for drinking water and wastewater
treatment because they offer similar functions to inorganic flocculants and are also able to
satisfy the guidelines for drinking water standards. Plant flocculants are also biodegradable
and thus seen as more environmentally friendly than inorganic flocculants. Also demonstrated
the potential of natural plant coagulants to reduce the number of microorganisms (coliforms) in
water via their anti-microbial properties. The potential of a natural plant to act as a coagulant
seems to be associated with their polyelectrolytes and biochemical properties
(Coagulation efficiency of Dicerocaryum eriocarpum (DE) plant; https://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/wsa/v43n1/01.pdf)

Based on Tawan & Yusuf (2019), the most usual polymers are the organic flocculants.
This may be polymers that carry anionic or cationic charged or uncharged non-ionic polymers
which are called Polyelectrolyte. Polysaccharide is the example of polyelectrolyte.
(Flocculation and electroflocculation for algal biomass recovery;
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/flocculant?
fbclid=IwAR3BqayCB81jMlHVQPGlDL_UTmxgGe7AnJnWCkkjgzsuFEzB86g6aHru0jU)

According to Singh, R.P. et.al., (2004), by grafting polyacrylamide branches on rigid

backbone of polysaccharides, the dangling grafted chains have easy approachability to
contaminants in effluents. Thus, grafted polysaccharides are very efficient, shear stable and
biodegradable flocculants.
(Biodegradable drag reducing agents and flocculants based on polysaccharides: Materials and applications;
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pen.11138)

Based on a study of Dawood (2014), A new hybrid inorganic-organic copolymer,

aluminum chloride-poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid), was prepared using the free radical
polymerization method and employed. This hybrid copolymer was used in the flocculation of
wastewater as a new flocculant.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

7|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
(Wastewater Flocculation Using a New Hybrid Copolymer: Modeling and Optimization by Response Surface
Methodology; http://www.pjoes.com/Wastewater-Flocculation-Using-a-New-Hybrid-r-nCopolymer-Modeling-and-
Optimization,89165,0,2.html?fbclid=IwAR3Ab16D-yzA5JS0sNpMPZxVV0MlEMYvUmwFMgH5xajUI4Yz4Ob6_0vxe9I)

According to Zajic (1967), The extracellular polysaccharide from P. pullulans has been
found to be an efficient flocculating agent. Flocculating agents find use in a large number of
applications in industry, such as in the flocculation of clay slimes from aqueous solutions
resulting from the beneficiation of uranium potash or aluminum and from other
hydrometallurgical processes. The production of PP-floc (an extracellular polysaccharide used
as flocculating agent) by Pullularia pullalans in pilot plant-scale equipment using a medium
containing glucose is investigated.
(Flocculant and Chemical Properties of a Polysaccharide from Pullularia pullulans;
https://aem.asm.org/content/aem/25/4/628.full.pdf)

Mishra and Bajpai (2006), exhibited the flocculation performance of Tamaindus

mucilage in the removal of vat and direct dyes. Besides, Anastasakis et al. (2009), developed
the flocculation behavior of mallow and okra mucilage in waste water treatment.
(Use of the Cactus Cladodes Mucilage (Opuntia Ficus Indica) As an Eco-Friendly Flocculants: Process Development
and Optimization using Stastical Analysis; http://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_822_15a052324d6b84181184bdd275322bb6.pdf)

According to Bouatay & Mhenni (2014), The Opuntia ficus indica mucilage was tested
as an eco-friendly flocculant for textile waste water treatment. Its performance as flocculants in
decolorization, COD removal and turbidity abatement was checked.

(Treatment of waste water by coagulation and flocculation using biomaterials;

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/263/3/032006/pdf)

This study presents the flocculant behavior of Malva sylvestris (mallow) and Hibiscus
(okra) mucilage in the removal of turbidity from synthetic and biologically-treated effluent.
Aluminum salts were used as coagulants. The results show that mallow and okra mucilage
have significant flocculation properties. From the data, okra was as efficient as mallow in
removing turbidity at lower doses. Yet, at higher dosages, the DOC of both synthetic
wastewater and effluent increased, this is probably due to the organic substances present in
the mucilage of okra and mallow.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

8|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
(Anastasakis, Konstantinos & Kalderis, Dimitrios & Diamadopoulos, Evan. (2009). Flocculation behavior of mallow and okra
mucilage in treating wastewater. Desalination. 249. 786-791. 10.1016/j.desal.2008.09.013.)

Based on the study of Baldoza, Lopez & Pasco (2018), Saluyot (Corchorus olitorius)
has flocculating ability that is signifant tool to increase the sustainability of treating turbid river
water. Which is particularly known to be high in pathogenic organisms, turbidity and harmful
chemicals due to the dense population and industrialization around it. The use of Saluyot (C.
olitorius) leaf extract as a flocculant in treating turbid water of Davao river was proved that
particularly in the reduction of coliforms, Escherichia coli, turbidity and total suspended solids,
thus, opening the potential of the Saluyot leaf extract’s efficacy in treating other forms of
wastewater from different origins.

(Reduction of Coliforms and Escherichia Coli Using Saluyot (Corchorus olitorius) Leaf Extract as
Flocculant in Turbid Water of Davao River; http://idisphil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SDR_Zero-Waste.pdf)

Definition of Terms:

 Coagulation - the process of becoming viscous or thickened into a coherent mass. is a

chemical water treatment technique typically applied prior to sedimentation and filtration
to enhance the ability of a treatment process to remove particles.

 Color – color of water depends on the ambient condition at which the water is present.

 Conductivity – measure or the ability to conduct electricity.

 Extract - to remove or take out something. A substance removed from another

substance, often a food, and containing a basic quality or flavor.

 Flocculation - is a process in which colloids come out of suspension in the form of floc
or flake, either spontaneously or due to the addition of a clarifying agent. The action
differs from precipitation in that, prior to flocculation, colloids are merely suspended in a
liquid and not actually dissolved in a solution.

 Mucilage - is a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants and some
microorganisms.

 Polysaccharide - are long chains of carbohydrate molecules, specifically polymeric

carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glyosidic
linkages.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

9|Page
 Fluid Mechanics 2019

 Saluyot - is an erect herbaceous plant, fairly branched and grows about 1.5 m high.
Saluyot is from the member genus Corchorus classified in the subfamily of Grewioideae
of the family Malvaceae.

 Temperature – used to express the hotness and coldness of an object.

 Turbidity - Is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of

individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air.
Fluids can contain suspended solid matter consisting of particles of many different
sizes.

 Viscosity – is the state of being sticky or semifluid in consistency.

 Waste Water - is any water that has been affected by human use.

 Waste Water Treatment - Is a process used to remove contaminants from wastewater

or sewage and convert it into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle with
minimum impact on the environment, or directly reused.

Chapter Three:

Methodology

The experimental design, materials and methods, treatment of data and the decision
criteria are discussed in this chapter. The main objective is to present the methodology and the
research design of this experiment

Technical/Experimental

This experimental research is focused mainly on determining the turbidity level

reduction of the waste water and its physical parameters before and after application through
the use of natural flocculant which is the Saluyot leaf mucilage extract. Different percentage/
amount of the extract will be prepared and mixed in the flocculation process.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

10 | P a g e
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
Materials and Methods

This study will be using the experimental procedure where the samples are taken from
Estero de San Miguel located near Technological Institute of the Philippines- Arlegui Campus
in Quiapo, Manila. The coagulant used which is the aluminum salt will be bought in the market
as well as the Saluyot leaves for extraction.

TABLE A. DOSAGES OF COAGULANT AND SALUYOT LEAF MUCILAGE EXTRACT AS

FLOCCULANT

Mixes Aluminum Salt Saluyot Leaf Mucilage

Extract
Coagulant
Flocculant

1 5 mg/L 5 mg/L

2 5 mg/L 10 mg/L

3 5 mg/L 15mg/L

4 5 mg/L 20 mg/L

5 5 mg/L 25 mg/L

The table above shows the dosages that will be used in the experiment with the
aluminum salt coagulant will be constant in all mixes, while the flocculant will increase in each
succeeding mix.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

11 | P a g e
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
Extraction of Saluyot Leaves

Saluyot Washing Boiling Disintegr

Leaves ating

Combine Remaining
Pressure solids washed
filtered and Straining
filtering washing
with distilled
water

Precipita Powdered
Washing Drying
tion

FIGURE 1. EXTRACTION OF SALUYOT LEAVES

Procedure:
Extraction of Saluyot Leaves
1. Gather the Saluyot leaves.
2. Wash the leaves.
3. Boil with distilled water (1:3) for one hour.
4. Disintegrate coarsely in a blender.
5. Strained using a fine plastic strainer.
6. The remaining solids in the strainer will be washed with distilled water. Set aside.
7. The filtrate and washings should be combined and pressure filtered using diatomaceous
earth as filter aid.
8. Precipitate the polysaccharide by adding the filtrate to twice its volume of 2-propanol.
9. Next, washed the precipitate with 2propanol.
10. Then, squeezed free of excess solvent.

11. Dry it in an oven set at 60°C.

12. Lastly, powdered intro fine grains.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

12 | P a g e
 Fluid Mechanics 2019

Jar Test Method

1. Prepare 6 1000 mL beakers with water taken from Estero de San Miguel. Record the
starting physical parameters of the sample such as turbidity, color, and temperature.
2. Prepare a stirrer on each beaker, making sure that the positioned of the paddles are
identical.
3. Mix by slow stirring (40-50 rpm) for 30 seconds and discontinue mixing while adding the
coagulant and flocculant.
4. Leave the first beaker as the controlled sample. Add the increasing dosages in the
succeeding beakers.
5. Increase the mixing speed into rapid stir (100-125 rpm) for 15-30 seconds.
6. Then slow stir for up to 5 minutes.
7. Allow settling to occur
8. After settling has occurred, record the data such as the turbidity, conductivity, color,
temperature, and total dissolved solids.
9. Remove the beakers from the stirrer, empty the contents and thoroughly clean all the
equipment.

Measuring Turbidity:
1. Prepare the turbidity tube.
2. Pour the water into the tube until the water can no longer make out the black cross.
3. Read the scale on the outside of the tube in NTU.
4. If there is an available turbidity meter, it is advisable to use it.

Measuring the temperature:

1. Wear gloves and prepare a thermometer.
2. Place the thermometer four inches below the water surface for one minute.
3. Remove the thermometer from the water and record the temperature.

Measuring the conductivity:

1. Gather the materials.
2. Measure the conductivity of the sample through the use of electrical conductivity of the
meter.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

13 | P a g e
 Fluid Mechanics 2019
Measuring the viscosity:
1. Prepare the graduated cylinder and fill it water up to 500 mL.
2. Drop a sphere into the cylinder.
3. Record the time it takes for the sphere to fall a certain measured distance. The distance
divided by the measured time is the terminal velocity of the sphere.
4. Repeat the measurement for 3 trials and average the results. With the terminal velocity
of the spheres in different sizes measured and known, the absolute and kinematics
viscosity of the liquid can be calculated.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

14 | P a g e